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Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Welcome to Lila Munro

*waves* Hi, Lila and welcome to my blog.

When and why
did you begin writing?

I’ve
always known that on some level from the time I could say the ABC’s and I
memorized The Little Red Hen. At that
point I couldn’t write down stories, but I was really good at making them up. I
had a very vivid imagination. When I was in sixth grade we traded teachers once
a day in our teeny country school (I graduated in a class of fifty-two) and I
was introduced to the world of creative writing by Mr. Trokey. I was very much
taken in when he told me I had a knack for carrying a story line and that
someday he knew he’d get the first signed copy of a book I’d written. I really
doubt he thought that book would come in the form of an erotic romance. From
there I tinkered with writing off and on until my muses went dormant when the
children arrived. Apparently crying, screaming babies tend to terrify muses and
they flee for the hills at the sound. Then one day I looked up and figured out
I had turned forty and my dream was yet to be realized. It was at that point I
dusted off the old notebook, found an idea or two and turned them into The Executive Officer’s Wife.

What
inspires you to write and why?

Since I
write in several sub-genres to include contemporary, erotic, multiple-partners
and BDSM inspiration comes from everywhere. People in the malls beware, I sit
in those things for hours sometimes observing and developing characters—and I
won’t deny that everyone I actually do know has quirks and mannerisms, habits
and tastes that make their way into my writing. I also add a healthy dose of
personal experience and desires into my writing. Why? Well, everything around
me somehow turns into a story. I have a notebook full of ideas waiting in que
to be morphed into full blown manuscripts.

What is the
best piece of advice you received before you got published?

One
of the best pieces of advice I got when I started this journey to publication
was write what you know. I’ve been a military wife for fifteen years, and have
seen and done it all, been through all it has to offer good and bad. I’ve read
a lot of military romances that just leave me wanting. Either the facts aren’t
straight or the characters aren’t really in character. I felt that with my
knowledge and experience I could do it better. Libby and Chase’s story
particularly appealed to me because of all the ugly happenings in the world
today, most people don’t know what the families of the armed services go
through on any given day. I believe they get a realistic taste of that in The Executive Officer’s Wife yet still
get a solid love story with a banging HEA.

Do you have
any rituals to start your writing day?

Not
particularly. My other job as VP of Business Affairs at Rebel Ink Press usually
takes up my morning hours then once I’m caught up there, I’m transported into
my fantasy world where Doms, Mistresses, Marines and damsels in distress run
amok. My muses are pretty fickle. Depending on their moods that day dictates what
I work on and for how long. Now I was asked recently if I have any strange
rituals---the answer is a resounding yes. Well, some may not find it strange. I
have a habit of going to the think tank—ie bubble bath—whenever I’m struggling
with a scene. Time of day is no deciding factor and I’ve been known to sit in
the blessed thing more than once a day if need be.

What are you
currently writing?

Currently
I’m working on a ménage piece entitled Three
for Keeps. Zoey Matthews is our heroine and she’s been in love with three
men, Dane, Jack and Ryan ever since the social services lady dropped her off at
her new home on a back country road miles from nowhere at age ten and they were
her only playmates. After a ten year absence with little contact with them,
she’s back and playing for keeps. One way or the other, she’s going home with
at least one of her men if she has to settle. There’s plenty of conflict and
loads of HOT sex…

How do you
find your names?

Several
ways. I usually decide what ethnicity my characters are then go from there
researching names in that particular facet, always keeping in mind what
characteristics my characters hold. For instance, in my novel Bound by Trust, my hero is a mix of
Irish and Native American, he’s also Catholic. His one mission in the novel is
help Madi heal, therefore he was named Rafe, short for Raphael—one of the
archangels obviously. Lately I’ve taken to finding unusual names. Everywhere I eat
out or purchase something I glance at the associate’s name tag and see if they
sport an outside the box name.

What is the
most interesting piece of research you’ve done so far?

All the
research I’ve put into understanding the BDSM lifestyle would be first on the
list. I’ve met some very interesting people that way and I’ve learned a lot
about me. I’ve also interviewed strippers for my upcoming series The Sergeants of Echo Company. Had a
blast doing that. I’m a hands on girl. Why sit behind this computer 24/7 and
try to dabble and find when there’s a whole world out there chock full of live
people to play with and learn from?

(I think I'm going to be asking you some questions about that later!)

Do you
include your life experiences in your books?

To a degree.
And I’ll confess that each of my characters carry a bit of my personality or a
problem I’ve struggled with at some point in my life.

Who is your
favourite author and why?

I get asked
that a lot and to be honest the answer is I have many. My tastes are all over
the place. For a short list we’ll go with this: Maya Banks, Cherise Sinclair,
Loralei James and Julianne MacLean for my historical fix.

What do you
do to relax?

Aside from
my numerous bubble baths, I read a lot, I like museums and aquariums and I live
a hop, skip and jump away from the beach.

Lila's Bio: Lila
Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina. She’s a military wife
and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived
around for the past fourteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives
to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is
contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on,
trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up
the sun on the nearby beaches. She’s a member in good standing with RWA and
Passionate Ink. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted via her
website http://lilamunro.weebly.com , her joint effort website
or through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lila_Munro You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com

Target: Libby Calhoun. She’s
independent and strong-willed, the daughter of a near infamous Marine Corps
sniper. Libby’s been raised by the resident housekeeper, has learned to take
care of herself over the years and doesn’t take crap off anyone. She’s also
sassy and pretty darn cute. After one failed marriage she’s not in the market
for love, a husband or any semblance of children. One night of hot sex should
do it but that pesky situation with her father is making that near impossible.

Security Agent: Chase Wayland. He’s not looking for love either but his
golden-eyes sure can lure a girl in. Chase is a former Marine turned owner of
his own security firm. He also has a failed marriage under his belt and trust
isn’t in his vocabulary. There’s only one way in Chase’s world and that’s his
way, whether anyone else agrees or not.

Can these two live under the same roof after the incident? Chase seems to think
so, as long as they ignore each other, play by his strict 'business only'
policy and he makes Libby hate him. Libby thinks so, too, but she wants to do
things her way. And her way means Chase’s resolve to be a good guy will be
stretched to its limits, especially when she takes to the town in her red
boots…

Excerpt:

"It’s probably
going to be hard to get that jar filled on this side of the bar," Chase
said, his attention back on her. His eyes roamed her from head to toe leaving a
path of flames licking along Libby’s skin. She hoped her outfit was driving him
crazy. "Need any help?"

"Not from
you," she snapped. It was then she noticed Trent and Phil at the end of
the bar watching with what seemed to her to be pure amusement. What’s good
for the goose is good for the gander. "Kandy, can you take this one
out for me?"

Libby left the tray
and turning on her heel, she headed for the karaoke stage. Grabbing the
microphone that started her troubles with Chase in the first place, she
returned to the bar and climbed on top of it.

"Good evening
gentlemen," Libby said in the most sultry voice she could summon.
Seductively strolling along the bar’s length, she was greeted with whistles and
barks. "You all know my bodyguard by now I’m sure." She pointed at
Chase with the mic. "A few weeks ago he answered a challenge to fill my
jar. Well tonight he’s challenged me. He seems to think that I can’t fill it
working the floor."

Booing and groaning
erupted as Libby watched Chase scowl at her and adjust his Stetson even higher.
He looked up at her and took a visible breath.

"Last time I
believe you all wasted your hard earned pay so he’d be able to, what was it? Dance
with me, I believe? That won’t be happening this time. Tonight I’m up for
auction. It’s payday, fellas, so dig deep. Whoever wins won’t be paying for
someone else to hold me." Libby finished her little speech and smirked at
Chase.

Murray shook his head
and Chase took a seat on the stool next to where Libby stood. Murmurs ran
through the bar as guys counted, and in some cases pooled, their funds. She
knew not one of them that would actually take her up on the holding her bit
except maybe the new Lieutenant who didn’t know any better.

"A
hundred….one-fifty over here…" And it went on and on until finally the new
Lieutenant stood on his table and exuberantly shouted, "One thousand
dollars!"

Everyone grew
silent. Libby looked down at Chase and saw the agitation churning in his eyes.

Standing up, he
stared Milner down as he crossed his arms over his puffed up chest and calmly
proclaimed, "Five thousand dollars."

Libby’s mouth fell
open and she dropped her hands to her sides. No one could top that. He wasn’t
supposed to win.

When all the
mumbling died down and no one challenged Chase’s outlandish bid, he coolly
turned, took her by the waist and lifted her down from the bar. "I’ll go
to the bank in the morning and get the money." He slipped two fingers in
her front pocket retrieving her car keys, burning her with the golden inferno
in his eyes. Finding them after grazing the edge where her panties stopped and
her skin started, he tossed them at Phil. "Drive her car home."

Leaning over, Chase
placed his shoulder at her waist, grabbed her by the legs and hoisted her up
and over his back. With her dangling over his muscular shoulders, begging to be
put down after realizing her plan had backfired, he strode across the floor and
out the door. A sickening round of Ooh-rah’s followed them.

With her still
draped over him like a sack of potatoes, Chase retrieved his keys from his
front pocket, unlocked the SUV and opened her door. He dumped her into the
passenger’s seat and began the arduous task of getting her safely buckled up
over her wiggling and insults.

"You big
jackass, what was that in there anyway," Libby said, trying to pull his
hands off the seatbelt. "Why do you have to be so damn pigheaded? Did you
think someone could actually snatch me away with three hundred marines watching?"

Sweeping her hands
away, Chase continued to work at the buckle. "I’m pigheaded? That pot’s as
black as pitch. And as a matter of fact, if Corporal Bevins is any indication
as to their protective capabilities, I have no doubt someone would be able to
haul you away right under their noses. As I recall, he let you float upstairs
with a perfect stranger."

"So we’re back
to that again?" Libby clipped.

"Yes, back to
that," Chase said harshly. "It was that that got us in this
predicament in the first place."

"Is it the fact
that it happened or the fact it hasn’t happened since that’s the problem?"
she spat, still trying to push his hands away from her. "You know, it
doesn’t have to be personal. If it was going to end in a couple of days then, why
can’t it be that way now? Why can’t we be together as long as we both agree
that when you have to go it’s over?" Libby couldn’t believe she was
suggesting this when she knew she wanted more. Wouldn’t something be better
than nothing?